Nether Providence resident requests sidewalk for Kershaw Road

NETHER PROVIDENCE -- A Kershaw Road resident was able to make a compelling argument with just a few words as to why he believes a sidewalk is needed on his busy street.

Michael Cleary said his mother, who watches his 19-month-old child several days a week, broke her foot not long ago while dodging a car on Kershaw, which draws vehicles headed to and from both the Wallingford Train Station and Wallingford Elementary School, as well as cut-through traffic.

"There is a high volume of traffic and we get people who go at high speed," he told the township board of commissioners on Sept. 3.

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With another child on the way, Cleary said a sidewalk would enhance safety for students bound for the school and home again, as well as pedestrians in general.

Commissioner Bob Kenworthy asked Police Chief David Splain to evaluate the situation and make recommendations on addressing it.

Splain said he would install a device on Kershaw that collects data on traffic volume and motorist speeds. After gathering a week's worth of information, he plans to report back to Kenworthy.

Commissioner Mike Dougherty asked the chief to communicate to Wallingford Elementary School staff about the need to respect the speed limit on the road. Splain said he would do so.

In another sidewalk-related development, Township Manager Gary Cummings reported to the board that the Wallingford Swim and Racquet Club had informed him it was not interested in a walkway on the section of Meadow Lane fronting the recreational facility.

Township officials, looking for desirable locations for new sidewalks, had reached out to the club to gauge whether it would any objections to such a project.

Cummings said the club's board politely declined after it considered several related issues, including maintenance of the sidewalk and snow removal.

Cummings said he told the club the decision would not preclude the township from proceeding if it decided to do so at some future date.

Also, Commissioner Matthew Sullivan reported that the grant total had been increased for an essentially completed project that involved the installation of sidewalks on sections of Turner Road, Rogers Lane and Possum Hollow Road, all in the vicinity of the train station.

Sullivan said the new amount is $438,000.

The project got under way last fall, but nearby residents complained to township officials about excessive grading and vegetation removal. In response, changes were made, including the addition of a retaining wall, regrading and the planting of replacement trees and vegetation.